Valve for soap dispensers



Sept.'17, 1935. T. M. JONES 2,014,652

VALVE FOR SOAP DiSPENSERS Filed Feb. 5, 1934 [/v v/v TOR 77LMAN M. do/vss Patented Sept. 17, 1935 TTES 'ATENT osries 16' Claims.

My invention relates to av valve device having especial utility in dispensing devices of the general character employed for dispensing a liquid commodity such as liquid soap.

In dispensing devices of this character the liquid soap is placed in a container, and a dispensing valve is connected to such container in a relation which will result in a pressure of the liquid soap against the valve so that when the valve is operated, a quantity of the liquid soap will pass out through the valve, it being intended that the valve shall be so constructed that a. measured quantity of the liquid soap will'be delivered at eachactuation thereof. My present invention is an improvement on the valve device shown in my U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,916,513, dated July 4, 1933, for Dispensing device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a dispensing valve of this character so formed that it will give a relatively accurately measured delivery of liquid at each operation thereof. In my new valve device I employ three interconnected valve elements and a simple means for operating these valve elements in such order that at each operation of the device a measured flow of liquid will be delivered.

It is an object of the invention to provide a valve device of the above character having an inner valve, an intermediate valve, and an outer Valve, the intermediate valve being connected to the outer valve in such resilient manner that it will be closed in consequence of the opening of the outer valve but will in no way interfere with the movement of the outer valve from a fully closed to fully open position.

It is an object of the invention to provide a valve device of the character set forth in the preceding paragraph, in which the intermediate valve" is closed as the result of an initial movement of the outer valve from its normal closed position, and which intermediate valve then remains closed during the time the outer valve is moving toward fully open position and during the time the inner valve of the device is moved from closed to open position. By the novel arrangement of parts, hereinafter set forth in detail, delivery of liquid from the dispensing valve during the period of time the intermediatevaive is open is prevented, and likewise during the delivery of liquid through the open outer valve, 9. flow of liquid past the intermediate valve is prevented.

It is an object of the invention to provide a dispensing valve having a pair of interconnecting chambers with an intermediate valve disposed therebetween, such intermediate valve being adapted to close during the initial part of the closing movement of the outer valve so. that the outer valve may serve as a piston to positively discharge liquid from the outer or secondary valve chamber.

It is a further object of the invention to pro vide a. device of. the above. character having an inner valve, an intermediate valve, and an outer valve, togetherwith means for actuating these valves in such relation that when the outer valve 5 is openedzsufficiently to permit a discharge of liquid, the intermediate; valve will be closed, and the inner valve will be opened so as to permit. a flow of liquid into the space above or ahead of the closed intermediatevalve.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be made evident throughout the following part of the specification.

Referring to the drawing, which is for illustrativepurposes only, Fig. 1 isa fragmentary sectional view showing a preferred form of my new valve device, this view showing the Valve device in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1, showing the valvezdevice in open position. Fig. 3 is a cross section taken as indicated by the line 33-of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4- is a cross sectionon a plane indicated by the line 1'. 4 of. Fig. 2.

In the form of myinvention shown in thedrawing, I employ a fitting l I having an annular threaded wall l2 adapted to receive a container I3 for liquid soap, which container may consist of. a glass bowl. Leading downwardly and laterally through the lower wall it of the fitting i l is a passage [5. forming a chamber which may be referred to as the primary chamber of the valve device. The lower diagonally disposed portion E6 of. the passage or chamber leads through a threaded projection ll adapted to receive an annular member is having an axial opening therethrough forming a secondary or outer chamber 20. At the upper end of the passage I5 is a shallow conical seat 2! adapted to receive a valve member in the form of. a ball 22 which rests normally in. closed relation to the seat 2| so as to prevent passage of, liquid from. the container i3 into the passage or chamber i5. At the lower end of the passage a conical seat 23 is formed in the end of the projection l-l', cooperating with a 010- sure member 2.4 to form a valve means. for preventing, at specified times, a fiow of liquid from the chamber [5: into the secondary chamber 20. The lower or outer end 25. of the member 68 is providedwith an internal conical seat 26 in which a conicalvalve member 27 is. normally seated, as shown in Fig. 1.v

When the valve device is closed or is in inactive condition as. shown. in Fig. 1, the closure member 24 is in open relation to its seat 23, but the closure membersv 22 and 21. are in closed relation to their respective seats 21 and 26. At such time liquid which has previously entered the chamber 15, as will be hereinafter set forth, may flow past the closure member 24 into the chamber 20, the air from the chamber 20 passing into the chamber l5 as the flow of liquid from the chamber it into the chamber 20 takes place. It is a feature of the invention to provide a valve arrangement wherein the closure member 24 will become seated against the seat 23 before the closure member 2i has moved away from its seat 26 a sufficient distance to permit liquid to pass or discharge downwardly and outwardly through the discharge mouth 36 formed adjacent the seat 26 of the member it. To accomplish this result, it will be noted that the closure member 24 is disposed relatively close to its cooperating seat 23 and that the angle of the seat 23 relative to the line of movement of the closure member 24 is relatively steep, whereas the angle of the seat 26 relative to the line of movement of the valve member 21 is relatively acute, the result being that, as compared with the valve closure member 24, the valve member 27 must be moved a relatively great distance in order to produce a clearance or opening between the valve member 21 and the seat 26 which will permit a flow of fluid by gravity therethrough. Accordingly, the valve member 24 moves into closed position during the initial movement of the valve member 2'5 and positively closes off the lower end of the primary chamber l5, and after the closing of the valve member 24, the valve member 22 will be moved into open position to permit liquid to flow from the container l3 into the primary chamber 15.

For actuation of the valve members 22, 2t, and 21 in the manner above described, I provide a stem 3! having an actuating handle 32 on the lower outer end thereof, this stem 3| extending axially through the outer valve seat 26, the secondary chamber 28, the intermediate valve seat 23, and within the primary chamber I5. The stem 3! is preferably rigidly secured to the closure member 2'! so that upward movement of the valve stem will be accompanied by a like inward and upward movement of the closure member 27. On the inner portion of the stem 3| a cylindrical head 33 is situated, this head 33 being of a size to slide in guided relation in the lower portion l6 of the chamber l5, and such head 33 having fiattened sides 36, as best shown in Fig. 4, for the purpose of providing passages 35 through which liquid may flow from the primary chamber i5 into the secondary chamber 20. For guiding the lower end of the stem 3i, the closure member 21 is provided with an annular or cylindrical portion 36 having peripheral portions removed therefrom so as to provide flat peripheral faces 3! leaving openings 38 around the wall portion 36 through which liquid may flow from the secondary chamber 20 after the opening of the valve member 21 relative to the seat 26. The intermediate closure member 24 is made preferably in the form of a cup, as shown, and is slidable on the stem 3| between the upper or inner face of the outer valve member 2'! and a shoulder at formed by the lower end of the head 33. A spring 4! operates between the closure member 24 and the member 21 to urge the member 24 toward the shoulder 50. A larger spring 42 operates between the lower end of the projection I"! of the fitting H and the inner face of the valve member H to yieldably force the valve member 2'! downwardly and outwardly toward the seat 26. The shoulder 4i] is so spaced relative to the valve member 21 that when the valve member 21 is in the closed position in which it is shown in Fig. l, the closure member 24 will be held away from its cooperating seat 23, thereby opening communication between the primary and secondary chambers l5 and 23. The extreme inner end of the valve stem consists of a tip or finger 15 of such length that it will not engage the ball 22 when the valve stem 3! is in its outer position shown in Fig. l and will not dislodge the ball 22 from its seat 21 until after the valve stem 31 has been moved inwardly or upwardly a sufiicient distance to close the valve member 24 against its seat 23. After the initial movement of the stem 3|, suificient toclose the valve member 24 against the seat 23, the intermediate portion of the valve stem 3i may be moved upwardly through the closure member 2-5, the spring 4! yielding before the advance of the Valve member 21. In this manner the valve member 27 may be forced up into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2, acting as a piston to dislodge liquid from the chamber 20, and the valve ball 22 may be caused to roll to one side by the action of the upper tip 45 of the valve stem 3|, permitting a fresh supply of liquid to pass from the container it into the primary chamber l5 during the time the liquid is being discharged from the chamber 23. When the valve stem Si is released so that it may be moved outwardly under force of the spring 62, the spring ii holds the valve member 24 against the seat 23 until the valve mem er 2? approaches very close to the seat 26. During the final small movement of the valve stem 3! toward its outermost position, the shoulder 45} moves the closure member 24 away from the closed position in which it is shown in Fig. 2 into the open position in which it is shown in Fig. 1. tip 45 of the valve stem 35 is entirely removed from engagement with the ball 22 so that such ball 22 will close off communication of the primary chamber l5 with the container 53 before the valve member 2d opens to permit a drainage of liquid from the chamber !5 into the chamber 26.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in simple and practical form, it is recognized that certain parts or elements thereof are representative of other parts, elements, or mechanisms which may be used in substantially the same manner to accomplish substantially the same results; therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A valve for a dispensing device of the character described having a container for holding a supply of fluid, including: walls forming a primary chamber connected to said container so as to receive fluid therefrom; walls forming a sec ondary chamber connected to said primary chamber so as to receive fluid therefrom, said secondary chamber having an outlet; an inner valve means disposed between said container and said primary chamber in normally closed position so as to prevent passage of fluid from said container into said primary chamber; an intermediate valve means disposed between said chambers in normally open condition; outer valve means normally closing said outlet of said secondary chamber; and actuating means adapted to be moved from inactive position to active position, said actuating means extending through said secondary chamber, and said actuating means being connected to said valve means so as to partly open said outer valve means during the initial portion of the movement of said actuating means and at the Before the opening of the valve 2 3, the I same time close said intermediate valve means, and subsequently open said inner valve means and fully open said outer valve means.

2. A valve for adispensing device of the: character described having a container for holding a supply of fluid, including: walls forming a primary chamber connected to said container so as to receive fluid therefrom; walls forming a secondary chamber connected to said primary chamber so as to receive fluid therefrom, sai'd secondary chamber having an outlet; valve means disposed between said chambers in normally open condition; valve means normally closing said outlet of said secondary chamber; and actuating means adapted to'be moved from inactive position to active position, said actuating means extending through said secondary chamber, and said actuating means being connected to said valve means so as to first open said second mentioned valve means, and then close said first mentioned valve means.

3. A valve for a dispensing device of the character described having a container for holding a supply of fluid, including: walls forming a pri-' mary chamber connected to said container so as to receive fluid therefrom; walls forming a secondary chamber connected to said primary chamber so as to receive fluid therefrom, said secondary chamber having an outlet; an inner valve means disposed between said chambers in normally opencondition; outer valve means normally closing said outlet of said secondary chamber; and actuating means adapted to be moved from inactive position to active position, said actuating means extending through said secondary chamber, and said actuating means being connected to said valve means so as to open said outer valve means and close said inner valve means during its movement from inactive position toward active position.

4. A valve for a dispensing device of the character described having a container for holding a supply of fluid, including: walls forming a primary chamber connected to said container so as to receive fluid therefrom; walls forming a secondary chamber connected to said primary chamber so as to receive fluid therefrom, said secondary chamber having an outlet; an inner valve means disposed between said container and said primary chamber in normally closed position so as to prevent passage of fluid from said container into said primary chamber; an intermediate valve means disposed between said chambers in normally open condition; outer valve means normally closing said outlet of said secondary chamber; and a valve stem extending from the exterior of said secondary chamber through said outlet.

thereof, through said secondary chamber, and within said primary chamber, said stem being connected to said outer valve means so as to positively move the same toward open position as said stem is given inward movement, said stem being yieldably connected to said intermediate valve means so as to close the same during the initial portion of said inward movement, the inner end of said stem being adapted to open said inner valve means after the closing of said intermediate valve means.

5. A valve for a dispensing device of the character described having a container for holding a supply of fluid, including: walls forming aprimary chamber connected to said container so as to receive fluid therefrom; walls forming a secondary chamber connected to said primary chamber so asto receive fluid therefrom, said secondary chamber having; an outlet; an inner valve means: disposed. between said container and: said primary chamber in: normally closediposi-tion; so as to prevent passage of. fluid from said. corrtainer into said primary chamber; an. intermediate valve. means disposed between said. chambers in normally openv condition; outer. valve means normally closing said outlet of said secondary chamber; and a valve stem extending.

from the exterior of said secondary chamber 19;

through said outlet thereof, through said secondary chamber, and. within. said primary chamber; said stem being rigidly connected. to. said outer valve means so as tomove the. same from: closed position to fully open. position as. saidv stem is. given inward movement, said stem being. yieldably connected to said intermediate valve means so as to close the same during the initial portion of said inward movement, the inner; end. of said stem being adapted to open. said. inner valve 20 meansafter the closing ofv said intermediate valve means.

6; A valve for a dispensing device of thechar-- acter described having. a. container for holding a supply of fluid, including: walls forming a primary chamber connected to said container so as to receive fluid therefrom; walls forming a secondary chamber connected: to: said primary chamber so as to receive fluid. therefrom, said secondary chamber having an outlet, there being an outwardly faced intermediate valve seat dis.- posed between said chambers and an. inwardly faced outlet valve seat in saidv outlet; an inner valve means disposed between said container and said primary chamber in normally closed position so as to prevent passage of fluid from said. container into said primary chamber, an intermediate. valve body of annular form. in said secondary chamber normally resting in open. relation to said intermediate valve seat; an outer valve body in said secondary chamber: normally resting in closed relation to said outlet valve seat; and a valve stem extending from. the exterior of said secondary chamber through said outlet thereof, through said secondary chamber, through said intermediate valve body, and within. said: primary chamber, said valve stem. being; con.- nected to said outlet valve body so as to move the same toward open position during the initial inward movement of said valveistem and to open said inner valve means during the latter part of the inward movement of said? valve stem,. there being a spring on said valve stem to close said intermediate valve body against. said. intermediate seat during the initial part of. said movement of 55, said valve stem.,

7. A valve for a dispensing; device of the character described having a container for holding a. supply of fluid,. including walls; forming a primary chamber connected. to-said container so' as 60. to receive fluid therefrom; walls forming. a secondary chamber connected to. said primary chamber so as to receive fluid. therefrom, said secondary chamber having an outlet, there being an outwardly faced intermediate valveseat disposed 5 between said chambers and an inwardly faced outlet valve seat in said outlet; an inner valve means disposed between said container and saidv primary chamber in normally closed position so as to prevent passage of fluid from said container into said primary chamber; an intermediate valve body of annular form in said secondary chamber normally resting, inopen relation to. saidintermediate valve seat; an outer valve body insaid secondary chamber normally resting. in

closed relation to said outlet valve seat; a valve stem extending from the exterior of said secondary chamber through said outlet thereof, through said secondary chamber, through said intermediate valve body, and within said primary chamber, said valve stem being connected to said outlet valve body so as to move the same toward open position during the initial inward movement of said valve stem and to open said inner valve means during the latter part of the inward movement of said valve stem, there being a spring on said valve stem to close said intermediate valve body against said intermediate seat during the initial part of said movement of said valve stem; and spring means for returning said valve stem to its outward position following its release after an inward movement thereof.

8. A valve for a dispensing device of the character described having a container for holding a supply of fluid, including: walls forming a primary chamber connected to said container so as to receive fluid therefrom; walls forming a secondary chamber connected to said primary chamber so as to receive fluid therefrom, said secondary chamber having an outlet, there being an outwardly faced intermediate valve seat disposed between said chambers and an inwardly faced outlet valve seat in said outlet; an inner valve means disposed between said container and said primary chamber in normally closed position so as to prevent passage of fluid from said container into said primary chamber; an intermediate valve body of annular form in said secondary chamber normally resting in open relation to said intermediate valve seat; an outer valve body in said secondary chamber normally resting in closed relation to said outlet valve seat; a valve stem ex tending from the exterior of said secondary chamber through said outlet thereof, through said secondary chamber, through said intermediate valve body, and within said primary chamber, said valve stem being connected to said outlet valve body so as to move the same toward open position during the initial inward movement of said valve stem and to open said inner valve means during the latter part of the inward movement of said valve stem, there being a spring on said valve stem to close said intermediate valve body against said intermediate seat during the initial 1 part of said movement of said valve stem; and

spring means for returning said valve stem to its outward position following its release after an inward movement thereof, there being shoulder means on said stem to move said intermediate valve body away from said intermediate seat as said stem moves into its outward position.

9. A valve for a dispensing device of the character described having a container for holding a supply of fluid, including: walls forming a primary chamber connected to said container so as to receive fluid therefrom, there being an inner valve seat between said container and said primary chamber and facing said container; walls forming a secondary chamber connected to said primary chamber so as to receive fluid therefrom, said secondary chamber having an outlet, there being an outwardly faced intermediate valve seat disposed between said chambers and an inwardly faced outlet valve seat in said outlet; an inner valve means disposed between said container and said primary chamber in normally closed position so as to prevent passage of fluid from said container into said primary chamber, said inner valve means comprising a ball resting in said inner valve seat; an intermediate valve body of annular form in said secondary chamber normally resting in open relation to said intermediate valve seat; an outer valve body in said secondary chamber normally resting in closed relation to said outlet valve seat; and a valve stem 5 extending from the exterior of said secondary chamber through said outlet thereof, through said secondary chamber, through said intermediate valve body, and within said primary chamber, said valve stem being connected to said outlet 10 valve body so as to move the same toward open position during the initial inward movement of said valve stem and to open said inner valve means during the latter part of the inward movement of said valve stem, there being a spring on 15 said valve stem to close said intermediate valve body against said intermediate seat during the initial part of said movement of said valve stem.

10. A valve for a dispensing device of the character described having a container for holding 20 a supply or" fluid, including: walls forming a primary chamber connected to said container so as to receive fluid therefrom, there being an inner valve seat between said container and said primary chamber and facing said container; 2 walls forming a secondary chamber connected to said primary chamber so as to receive fluid therefrom, said secondary chamber having an outlet, there being an outwardly faced intermediate valve seat disposed between said chambers and 30 an inwardly faced outlet valve seat in said outlet; an inner valve means disposed between said container and said primary chamber in normally closed position so as to prevent passage of fluid from said container into said primary chamber, 5 said inner valve means comprising a ball resting in said inner valve seat; an intermediate valve body of annular form in said secondary chamber normally resting in open relation to said intermediate valve seat; an outer valve body in said secondary chamber normally resting in closed relation to said outlet valve seat; a valve stem extending from the exterior of said secondary chamber through said outlet thereof, through said secondary chamber, through said intermedia'te valve body, and within said primary chamber, said valve stem being connected to said outlet valve body so as to move the same toward open position during the initial inward movement of said valve stem and to open said inner valve means during the latter part of the inward movement of said valve stem, there being a spring on said valve stem to close said intermediate valve body against said intermediate seat during the initial part of said movement of said valve stem; and spring means for returning said valve stem to its outward position following its release after an inward movement thereof, there being shoulder means on said stem to move said intermediate valve body away irom said intermediate seat as said stem moves into its outward position.

11. A valve for a dispensing device of the character described having a container for holding a supply of fluid, including: walls forming a primary chamber connected to said container so as 5 to receive fluid therefrom; walls forming a secondary chamber connected to said primary chamber so as to receive fluid therefrom, said secondary chamber having an outlet; valve means disposed between said chambers in normally open condition; valve means normally closing said outlet of said secondary chamber; and actuating means adapted to be moved from inactive position to active position, said actuating means extending through said secondary chamber, and said 75,

actuating means being connected to said valve means so as to partly open said second-mentioned valve means during the initial portion of movement of said actuating means and at the same time close said first-mentioned valve means, and subsequently fully open said second-mentioned valve means.

12. A valve for a dispensing device of the character described having a container for holding a supply of fluid, including: walls forming a primary chamber connected to said container so as to receive fluid therefrom; walls forming a secondary chamber connected to said primary chamber so as to receive fluid therefrom, said secondary chamber having an outlet; an inner valve means disposed between said chambers in normally open condition; outer valve means normally closing said outlet of said secondary chamber; and a valve stem extending from the exterior of said secondary chamber through said outlet thereof and through said secondary chamber, said stem being connected to said outer valve means so as to positively move the same toward open position as said stem is given inward movement, said stern being yieldably connected to said inner valve means so: as to close the same during the initial portion of said inward movement, said stem being adapted to subsequently open said outer valve means.

13. A valve for a dispensing device of the character described having a container for holding a supply of fluid, including: walls forming a primary chamber connected to said container so as to receive fluid therefrom; walls forming a secondary chamber connected to said primary chamber so as to receive fluid therefrom, said secondary chamber having an outlet, there being an outwardly faced valve seat disposed between said chambers and an inwardly faced outlet valve seat in said outlet; an inner valve body of annular form in said secondary chamber normally resting in open relation to said first-mentioned seat; an outer valve body in said secondary chamber normally resting in closed relation to said outlet valve seat; and a valve stem extending from the exterior of said secondary chamber through said outlet thereof, through said secondary chamber, and through said inner valve body, said valve stem being connected to said outlet valve body so as to move the same toward open position during the initial movement of said valve stem, there being a spring on said valve stem to close said inner valve body against said firstmentioned seat during the initial part of said movement of said valve stem, said outer valve body partially opening before said inner valve body closes.

14;. A valve for a dispensing device of the character described having a container for holding a supply of fluid, including: walls forming a primary chamber connected to said container so as to receive fluid therefrom; walls forming a secondary chamber connected to said primary chamber so as to receive fluid therefrom, said secondary chamber having an outlet, there being an outwardly faced valve seat disposed between said chambers and an inwardly faced outlet valve seat in said outlet; an inner valve body of annular form in said secondary chamber normally resting in open relation to said first-mentioned seat; an outer valve body in said secondary chamber normally resting in closed relation to said outlet valve seat; a valve stem extending tially opening before said inner valve body closes.

15. A valve for a dispensing device of the character described having a container for holding a supply of fluid, including: walls forming a primary chamber connected to said container so as to receive fluid therefrom; walls forming a secondary chamber connected to said primary chamber so as to receive fluid therefrom, said secondary chamber having an outlet, there being an outwardly faced inner valve seat disposed between said chambers and an inwardly faced outlet valve seat in said outlet; an inner valve body of annular form in said secondary chamber normally resting in open relation to said inner valve seat; an outer valve body in said secondary chamber normally resting in closed relation to said outlet valve seat; a valve stem extending from the exterior of said secondary chamber through said outlet thereof, through said secondary chamber, and through said inner valve body, said valve stem being connected to said outlet body so as to move the same toward open position during the initial inward movement of said valve stem, there being a spring on said valve stem to close said inner valve body against said inner valve seat during the initial part of the movement of said valve stem, said outer valve body partially opening before said inner valve body closes; and spring means for returning said valve stem to its outward position following its release after an inward movement thereof.

16. A valve for a dispensing device of the character described having a container for holding a supply of fluid, including: walls forming a primary chamber connected to said container so as to receive fluid therefrom; walls forming a secondary chamber connected to said primary chamher so as to receive fluid therefrom, said secondary chamber having an outlet, there being an outwardly faced inner valve seat disposed between said chambers and an inwardly faced outlet valve seat in said outlet; an inner valve body in said secondary chamber normally resting in open relation to said inner valve seat; an outer valve body in said secondary chamber normally resting in closed relation to said outlet valve seat; a valve stem extending from the exterior of said secondary chamber through said outlet thereof, through said secondary chamber, and through said inner valve body, said valve stem being connected to said outer valve body so as to move the same toward open position during the initial movement of said valve stem, there being a spring on said valve stem to close said inner valve body against said inner seat during the initial part of said movement of said valve stem; and spring means for returning said valve stem to its outward position following its release after an inward movement thereof, there being shoulder means on said stem to move said inner valve body away from said inner valve seat as said stem moves into its outward position.

TILMAN M. JONES. 

